I was on FMLA for surgery for 12 weeks, including the last 7 weeks of the year. One hour after I return, my boss pulls me into his office and tells me he is demoting me. He states the reason is because I did not hit my team goal for the group that I manage. I did exceed my individual producer goal. He states that he is replacing me with one of my previous male direct reports who I have trained and developed from day one. He has two years experience. I have 15 years experience (5 of which in the manager role). I ask what he will bring to the table that he feels that I did not and he says because he has been a new account manager more recently than I have, he will be more relevant and relatable to the other new account managers and will bring a better energy to the group. I have had an impeccable record of success my entire career with this company, almost always ranking in top 25 performers nationally. There were no performance conversations had prior to my leave. In fact I recieved a glowing review 2.5 months before I left. During that review we had a discussion about whether I still liked my job and if I wanted to stay in it and I said yes and then asked his reason for asking, specifically asked him if he wants to take me out of the role and he assured me that wasnt the case. We dont see eye to eye on many issues and I give him feedback when I dont agree with decisions he makes which he doesnt like. He has told me that he doesnt like working with me because I challenge him and give him feedback and he says conversations are difficult sometimes so he avoids speaking to me. So I know he doesnt like me and I think he waited for the timing to be right to try and force me out blaming it on my goal that I didnt hit when I was out almost the last quarter of the year (actually my numbers tanked during the time I was out when my team was supposed to be under his direction). There is another man in my office in the leadership role I was in who missed his goal two years in a row and did not get a demotion. I hit goal 3 of 5 years, the other miss was in 2016. I believe there is gender discrimination, FMLA retaliation and also age discrimination involved here. I have reported to HR and she keeps trying to tell me she will help me find a different role within the company but at this point I feel my boss has targeted me and I want out from within his circle of influence. HR told me to inform my boss of our conversation and it did not go well and ended poorly as well. The environment at work has become very uncomfortable and hostile and I dont want to be around him anymore. I have asked HR to discuss severance packages and her response was we dont do severance packages for those who choose to leave the company. I told her I feel like I am being forced to leave and she reverts to offering other positions (which would likely involve increased travel and or relocation, not an option). What are my next steps? I really dont want to file a law suit but I feel like I am being backed into a corner here. Any advice?